This year marks the tenth year that GC Pro account manager Vince Bedford, operating out of GC Pro's San Francisco location, has worked closely with the members of Metallica. Not only has every band member turned to GC Pro during that time for professional audio equipment and specialty musical gear, but also so have members of the band's crew, their friends and even family members.

"I have been with Metallica since 1999," notes Bedford. "It's anything and everything, for recording and live work, from microphones to monitors to FOH snakes to consoles--I actually sold an SSL console to a member of the pyrotechnical company that works for the band," he says. "It's not like it's one big item every now and then--it's consistent sales of everything, big and small, throughout the years, because they know that whatever they need, I can find it for them."

Zach Harmon, Metallica equipment manager, stated, "Vince Bedford has always been outstanding sorting out the band members' equipment needs, and as Metallica's equipment manager, I depend on Guitar Center Professional's San Francisco location and Vince's ability with musical purchases, whether it be Pro Tools, guitars, recording studio gear or hard-to-get items demanded by the band's hectic touring and recording schedule."

"You see it all the time at all of our locations," Bedford says. "A bond develops between bands and recording artists and GC Pro employees--a bond based on their trust in us that we'll always advise them on the right products for their needs and that we'll always be there for them. Metallica is a well-oiled machine that deserves people who can keep up with them. And that's what we do, for them and all of our customers."